Have you been referred for a diabetic eye exam? Read on to learn more about what is involved in this type of exam. Diabetes is a prominent cause of severe vision loss, making it important for patients to have a regularly scheduled diabetic eye exam. Unfortunately, diabetes may be the cause of many vision issues that impact people at different points in their life, and the sooner that is identified, the quicker a treatment plan can be put in place. It is generally recommended that diabetic patients undergo a diabetic eye exam at least once a year.
Diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s capacity to generate the insulin hormone, resulting in high blood glucose levels (sugar). Eye issues such as impaired vision, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy can all be caused by sustained high blood sugar levels for a long time.
Diabetes frequently causes damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina or back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy, the most frequent cause of vision loss in diabetics, is the name for this disease. When blood vessels in the eye are exposed to high blood glucose levels for an extended length of time, diabetic retinopathy develops. The walls of the blood vessels in the eyes get weaker as a result of this. Having diabetes and prolonged high blood glucose exposure increases the chances of developing this disease.
During a routine ophthalmological examination, the eye doctor can detect the alterations associated with diabetic retina disease (also known as “retinopathy”). The blood arteries are most affected by these alterations. There might be minimal bleeding or hemorrhaging, aneurysms, scarring, or inadequate blood flow in some regions. If a general ophthalmologist notices a problem with the retina, they will refer the patient to a retina specialist.
Diabetic eye disease is no longer a blinding illness if diagnosed early. Medical professionals can now help their patients avoid vision loss and, in some circumstances, correct certain diabetic abnormalities in the retina by detecting them early and treating them promptly. The ophthalmologist will educate their patients about diabetes and how it impacts their vision.
Often, they will try to discover methods to optimize blood sugar and blood pressure control by collaborating with the primary care physician, endocrinologist, and the patient themselves. These two risk factors, as well as others, are something patients can control. The objective is to keep them seeing well and enjoying healthier lives with proper guidance. Patients diagnosed with diabetes need to get frequent diabetic eye exams so the doctor can catch issues like diabetic retinopathy early and preserve their eyesight.
Regular eye exams are recommended for anybody with diabetes. This allows the ophthalmologist to check for abnormalities in the retina’s blood vessels, which might suggest diabetic retinopathy. During a diabetic eye exam, the doctor will take the patient’s medical and visual history and have the patient read an eye chart.
The doctor will then use a tool called an ophthalmoscope to examine the retina in the back of the eye. Patients will most likely get medications to dilate their pupils so the doctor can examine their retina using a slit lamp. Fluorescein angiography, a test that can identify changes in the structure and function of the retinal blood vessels, is one option. The doctor will also examine the eyes for cataracts and glaucoma during a diabetic eye exam.
The following are some recommendations that the American Diabetes Association advises for diabetic eye exams:
An experienced ophthalmologist can assist if you have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy following a diabetic eye exam. To learn more reach out to our office today.
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